Bridge at Gilbert's Ford, Middle Creek, Yinnar

Carlo Catani was involved with the construction of many bridges in the State and he had a small role in the eventual building of a bridge across Middle Creek at Gilbert's Ford in Yinnar, in Gippsland. 

The community had been agitating for this bridge for some time as the ford was dangerous. In 1898 the Morwell Council had applied for money for the bridge but had been unsuccessful (1). 

A report in the Morwell Advertiser in August 1899 noted the danger the ford presented -
On Tuesday evening, last week, Mr. J. Cahill, of Jumbuck, and a man who was working for him, narrowly escaped being drowned. It appears they were returning from work both mounted on a heavy draught horse. All went well till they reached Gilbert's Ford across Middle Creek, which, in consequence of the recent heavy rains, was running a banker. At one side of the ford a large log is lying in the creek and the force of the water running underneath has excavated a large hole, and whilst crossing the ford the horse Cahill and his man were riding, fell into the hole and threw both men over the log into the current. Cahill, with much difficulty, managed to reach the bank in an exhausted state, after being carried down the stream about three chains. His man, however, was carried about eight 
chains down, and just when he thought it was "all up," or rather "all down" with him, he managed to lay hold of some support and eventually reached the bank in safety, but exhausted and bruised. This is the same spot where Mr. W. Tulloch met with an accident about two years ago, when his horse and hearse were stranded in the creek, the former being drowned whilst the latter remained under water for two days. Other accidents have also occurred at the same place, and it is quite evident a bridge is urgently required to replace the ford, which is very dangerous, and most unsafe for crossing when the creek is high, and it is to be hoped the local shire council will consider the matter at an early date and get their engineer to report on the matter before any lives are lost (2).

In July 1900, it was reported that for some time past the local council have been endeavouring to impress upon the Public Works Department the urgent necessity of having a bridge erected at Gilbert's ford, and other necessary work carried out immediately, and brought such pressure to bear, that Messrs Catani, engineer for Public Works, and Reed, Surveyor-General, visited Morwell yesterday (3). 

Morwell, c. 1890 - it would have looked much the same when Carlo visited in July 1900

Photographer: W.H. Ferguson. State Library of Victoria Image H85.162/2

The Morwell Advertiser reported on this visit of Carlo and Joseph Reed, and started with a description of Gilbert's Ford -
"Gilbert's ford" is becoming quite famous, and if its whole history was written it would certainly be interesting as well as exciting, and if a verbatim report of what Mr. Bryson and others have said regarding it was included, its history would be most thrilling. This ford, known as Gilbert's, is one across Middle Creek, between Messrs Walker's and Bryson's properties, and directly in front of Mr A. Gilbert's gate, about ten miles from Morwell, and five from Yinnar. When the creek is in a normal state the water at the ford is about half a chain in width and shallow, but being at the foot of a range of hills the water comes down in a body after heavy rain, and in the space of an hour or two the water will rise from a depth of 18 inches to nearly as many feet, making it quite impassable for traffic, and in consequence suppliers to the Middle Creek creamery have been unable to deliver their milk for several days, being completely cut  off.

The report continues -
The matter was repeatedly brought under the notice of the local shire council who recognised that a bridge was necessary. Steps were taken to have the work placed among the first and most urgent works so be carried out under the Special Grant, but for some reason or other the Public Works department "wiped it out." The people interested were naturally much disappointed whilst the council were indignant and eventually brought such pressure to bear that Mr. Catani, engineer for public works and Mr. Reid, Surveyor-general, visited Morwell on Thursday last week, and in company with the council, were driven out to the ford in P. Dunbar's drag (4). 

Because this is a blog devoted to Carlo, I will reproduce some more of the report, which mentions him by name, even though it is not strictly relevant to this story - 

Messrs Catani and Reid arrived by the mid-day train, and at 1 o'clock a start was made for the ford. The route taken was along the ridge to the Hazelwood Cemetery, where a road to the left leading to Billy's Creek was taken. The visitors were so taken up with maps, plans, etc, that they did not notice the scenery whilst travelling along the ridge. They, however, "pricked up their ears" when they reached Mac's flats. The road between Macmillans' properties is in a bad state and Mr. Catani remarked that poor land made the best roads. They then began to admire the flats and made several inquiries as to what would be a fair rental. Someone mentioned there was a rumor that the flats were to be cut up into small holdings and the land would be worth something between 10s and £1 per acre, Mr. Catani referred to rents that were paid in the Western district, and thought anything under £1 would not be out of the way. One councillor remarked that he was getting 12/9 an acre rent for similar land. 

Mr. Catani drew attention to the fact that the banks of the creek were higher than the land a couple of chain away. This was accounted for by the wash in flood time remaining on the bank, and a councillor stated that by putting sand-bags in the creek, the whole of the adjacent flats could be irrigated. Soon after, a farm house was passed, and Mr. Catani said "I'll bet you that is a rented place, you can always tell them. Buildings are allowed to go to wreck and other matters neglected." A councillor said Mr. Catani was correct, and that the place was let (5).

When the party arrived at the ford - Mr. Catani was not long in "grasping the situation," and as soon as he saw the place said "you shall have a bridge here," and then pointed out the spot where the bridge should be placed. Of course this satisfied the council, and Mr. Gilbert's satisfaction was likewise expressed upon his face (6). The party then continued on to Yinnar  for other inspections and then Carlo and Mr Reed boarded the train at Yinnar, which took them to Morwell, from where they returned to Melbourne, 

You would think the recommendation for the bridge by Carlo, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, would be enough for the work to be funded and started immediately, however in October 1899, members of the community had to bring the matter up with the Council again and it was reported that Messrs A. Gilbert, Bryson, Heesom and Walker waited on the council in connection with having a bridge erected across Middle Creek, at the place known as Gilbert's Ford (7). 

Or as the Morwell Advertiser reported the summer came and went and so did winter, during which the same old trouble had to be faced by the residents. When the last allocation was applied for it was placed on the list as one of the most urgent, but the recommendation of the council was simply ignored and when the list was returned "Gilbert's bridge" was not among the works to be carried out (8). 

In October 1901 a deputation from the Morwell Shire met with the Minister for Public Works and they represented the case in such an able and forcible manner that, we are glad to learn, it had the desired effect, and money has now been set aside for the erection of bridge referred to (9). The money became available in early 1902 (10). 

Middle Creek in flood, June 11, 1909. Photographer: Martin Walker.

Image: Gippsland and Regional Studies Collection, Federation University

http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/80866

A tender was advertised in February that year for a Timber Pile Bridge at Gilbert's, Middle Creek. It was re-advertised  in March (11) and the bridge was built, but I have no information about when it was constructed.  

Sadly, in June 1909 in the worst floods in 16 years, four bridges on Middle Creek, including the one at Gilbert's Ford was washed away (12). The community not only lost their bridges but the old ford, used before the bridge was erected, is covered with debris, and the Messrs Gilbert Bros., and others on the same side have to go by way of Whitelaw's Track to reach Yinnar (13). The ford was eventually cleared, but it does not appear that the road bridge was rebuilt.  

Debris in Middle Creek after the June 1909 flood. Photographer: Martin Walker.

Image: Gippsland and Regional Studies Collection, Federation University

http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/80745

However, in 1917 the Morwell Shire Engineer prepared specifications, etc.for a timber foot bridge over the Middle Creek, near Gilbert's Ford (14). Fifteen years later, in November 1932, the Council moved a motion that an application be made to the Country Roads Board for  a grant for a bridge with concrete piers and timber top  to be erected at the ford (15); in March 1934, a motion at a Council meeting was moved to ask the Country Roads Board to inspect the proposed bridge site across Middle Creek now known as Gilbert's ford (16). 

A year later, in  March 1935, the Council received a letter from James Gamble and A. C. Gilbert asking for a bridge at the Middle Creek Ford owing to danger and inconvenience, also asking for repairs to footbridge (17).  This was referred to Country Roads Board (CRB) and they responding promising an inspection of Gilbert's Ford. The visit was reported in May 1935 and the visit produced the good news that they [the CRB] were prepared to allocate portion of the money for a bridge, provided the Council and the settlers contribute portion of the cost (18). In the June the CRB approved the plans and specifications for the bridge and gave the Council permission to commence the works (19). 

Again  I have no information as to when the bridge was opened, but the local residents must have been overjoyed to once again have a bridge at Gilbert's Ford. There is a small reserve near the bridge, originally called Yinnar South Reserve, but now known as Martin Walker Reserve. Martin Walker was a farmer at Yinnar South and a Morwell Shire Councillor for many years from 1924 until the 1970s. He died in 1977, aged 85.  He was also a photographer and some of his photographs are at the State Library and some at the Gippsland and Regional Studies collection at Federation University at Churchill. Two are shown in this post. (20). 

Acknowledgment - The photographs by Martin Walker in this post were found on the Gippsland History Facebook page, see here, posted by the Friends of the Gippsland and Regional Studies Collection Facebook group, see here. The information on Martin Walker was also from the Gippsland History Facebook page, see footnote 20. 

Trove list - I have created a list of newspaper articles on the bridge at Gilbert's Ford, access it here. 

Footnotes 

(1) Morwell Advertiser, January 10, 1902, see here. 

(2) Morwell Advertiser, August 25, 1899, see here. 

(3) Morwell Advertiser, July 27, 1900, see here.

(4) Morwell Advertiser, August 3, 1900, see here.

(5) Ibid

(6) Ibid

(7) Morwell Advertiser, October 13, 1899, see here. 

(8) Morwell Advertiser, January 10, 1902, see here. 

(9) Ibid

(10) Ibid

(11) Morwell Advertiser, February 14, 1902, see here;  Morwell Advertiser, March 21, 1902, see here. 

(12) Morwell Advertiser, June 18, 1909, see here. 

(13) Ibid

(14) Gippsland and Mirboo Times, April 5, 1917, see here. 

(15) Morwell Advertiser, November 17, 1932, see here. 

(16) Morwell Advertiser, March 22, 1934, see here.

(17) Morwell Advertiser, March 21, 1935, see here. 

(18) Morwell Advertiser, May 23, 1935, see here. 

(19) Morwell Advertiser, June 20, 1935, see here.

(20) Information on Martin Walker from a post on the Gippsland History Facebook site, by Helen Martin, posted April 14, 2020.